Plagiarism

I’m going to take a friend’s sarcasm and laziness a step further. Liked his blog, so I’m just posting his link:
http://jalan46.wordpress.com/2009/02/24/blahg/

There. Content. Ta Da.

 

I found the pause button.

That’s right, it’s just like my facebook status says: 
“Kyleen found the pause button in Minnesota.” 
(Sue says I should trademark the phrase.) 

Apparently, according to another friend, the pause button has been in Minnesota for a while, “between the n’s.”  Who knew? 
But I digress.

It was a whirlwind weekend, and yet just the kind of respite I needed from my life here in New York.  I got to fly with an old friend from college; we haven’t traveled together in ages, and since he and his wife and I are all so busy, we don’t get a lot of time to just hang out.  I wish she could have gone with us, but she had a wedding in Austin to attend; so he and I flew into Minneapolis early last Friday, and thus began my wonderful weekend, which included the following:

Lunch at Mickey’s diner, which is open 24/7/365 and has been around since 1939;
a lovely stroll across the Mississippi;
a wedding rehearsal at warp-speed;
a rehearsal dinner complete with a couple’s baby-picture slide show and a menu of entirely local, organic food;
one of the most random, hilarious, fun bachelorette parties I’ve ever attended;
befriending the hotel desk clerk at the Super 8 (at 2 am in an old bridesmaid dress and cowboy boots, no less);
waking up and turning the alarm OFF;
A BEAUTIFUL, sweet wedding of two dear friends in which I had the privilege of singing the song the groom wrote when he proposed to the bride;
a reception that included a live band of friends and family of the couple, photo-booth antics, more fantastic local organic food, a hoppin’ dance floor, and that was held in an amazing library;
going out dancing, post-reception, to a club in downtown Minneapolis that used to belong to Prince (yes, the artist formerly known as, now known as, who hails from MN);
an early morning breakfast with Tom;
seeing Kevin perform his last matinee of Little House on the Prairie at the Guthrie (which reignited my desire to be Laura Ingalls Wilder);
and more hilarious, touching, thought-provoking, and/or fascinating conversations than I’ve had in a while.

So thank you, Minnesota, for giving me a place to get away from it all.

And congratulations, Jake and Jen!!!

 

This One Made Me Laugh

What I would call a hissy-fit.

Correction:  I meant to link to this one.

 

Happy Autumn!

Hooray for the first day of Fall!

Autumn in New York is so awesome, there have been movies made about it. 

This is my favourite season.  The weather cools — the air is crisp and chilled and breezy, a refreshing, invigorating change from the humid, sticky, langorous heat of summer.  I start to sleep better, bundled at night under a cosy comforter (lately, I’ve reverted back to the leopard-print comforter that lived on my bed all through college — I’d forgotten just how comfy it is).  And of course, it’s soup weather!  I recently stumbled onto a blog devoted to daily crock-pot cooking, and she has some recipes I can’t wait to try.  Fall fashion is my favourite — I love the look of blazers and scarves, high boots and crisp button-down shirts, light sweaters and long-sleeved dresses.  It’s apple season!  And pumpkin season!  The leaves will start to change.  I’ve already made the switch from iced coffee to hot (and Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte is back on the menu).

Plus this fall is going to be really busy, but I’m looking forward to it.  Red Door has a production coming up in October — the Halloween Harvest Festival has invited us back!  I’ll be traveling to Minnesota for a wedding (crazy road trip!).  I’m taking piano lessons and teaching voice lessons, helping coordinate the music for our church’s fall retreat, and working on directing a children’s choir for our Christmas service.  Add to that my regular line up of Theatre Thursdays with my uncle, the resurgence of the Astoria Home Fellowship Group (we’re studying terrorism!  seriously!) and various and sundry social engagements, and I’m already pretty booked.  Wonder where I’ll ever find time to hang out with Kyle when he finally moves?   Plus Cheryl has finally come to town (WOO!) and Casey’s on his way back, which should be fun.  I think I may have to have an HHS party at my house.  Crazy! 

All in all, I’m really glad it’s autumn.  And really enjoying the fact that I am currently sitting in Bryant Park, in the crisp air cooling as the sun sets, grass between my toes, with a functioning laptop that will actually connect to the internet.  Sweet.

Too bad it has a not-so-stellar battery life.

 

I actually made a political joke.

Between Sunday afternoon meetings:

Adam:  How big is Greenpoint?
Me:  Um, I’m an Astorian.  Why would I know that?
Adam:  Ah yes.
Me:  So many people have a deep abiding love of Brooklyn, that I have to be fierce with my Queens-love.
Adam:  Well I love Astoria, too.  Every time we’re there . . .
Renée:  Yeah, we love it.
Me:  I know, if I could just pick up your apartment and move it to Astoria, that would be great.
Renée:  I know!  That would be awesome.
Me:  Maybe I should ask Sarah Palin to build a bridge from your apartment to mine. 

 

Hey, I didn’t say it was a good joke.

 

eight years

As of this month, I have lived in New York for eight years.

“Remember how you told me
I should trust you for a year?
It would just be for a year -
But it’s eight years, Albert!
Eight long years, Albert!”

“Eight years, eight years,
That’s how long I’ve wasted on him!
That’s all, I’m through.
Albert dear, to put it sweetly,
To hell with you!”

It was almost nine years ago that I stood on a stage singing these lines in Hallsville High School’s production of Bye Bye Birdie, one weekend after I auditioned for NYU.  I moved to New York a few months shy of a year later, and have lived here ever since . . .

Eight years!  So much has happened in that time.

I’ve made many many good friends who’ve enriched my life beyond what I can express with mere words.

I’ve found a church where I can really plug in and grow.

I’ve lost friends, alienated people, made enemies, and caused drama and conflict and heartache.

I’ve watched a national tragedy, an attack that started a war, happen on this tiny, crowded island.

I’ve found joy in escaping the insanity of this city.

I’ve spent summers away, reveling in the simplicity of small town Texas life but always itching to get back here.

I’ve danced up the streets in the rain.

I’ve had dreams crushed and beliefs berated and faith tested and sanity questioned.

I have known love that made my heart soar beyond my wildest dreams.

I have walked the streets sobbing through throngs of strangers who never even batted an eye, wallowing in the despair and guilt of heartache.

I have made music.

I have failed.

I’ve earned a degree and learned how to make a living without it.

I’ve had things stolen, been threatened with a restraining order, been sexually harassed, and hospitalized.

I have been to the top of the Empire State Building, and had more fun in the lower lobby.

I’ve been a tourist and a tour guide, a busker and a paper-pusher, an other and an ex, an artist and an idiot, a  student and a teacher.

I’ve strengthened bonds with family, expanded the definition, and realized that distance isn’t always the best thing.

I’ve seen good theatre, bad theatre, and mediocre theatre.

I’ve created good theatre, bad theatre, and mediocre theatre.

I have been selfish, and I have given myself away.

And most importantly:  I have learned, and I have loved.

 

No Guarantees

I’m not sure how many people are still reading this blog, because it has been so sorely neglected as of late.  I’ve gotten to the point now where my head is full of all sorts of things I could blog about; but not having a home computer seriously impedes my ability.  I know, I know, I’ve used that excuse before.  I also haven’t felt all that guilty about not posting, since I’m fairly sure that anyone who actually knows me who also reads this blog has some other form of contact with me and a way to keep tabs on me (if I’m wrong about that, by all means leave me a correctionary comment). 

Perhaps you’re now wondering, “Ok, TexanNewYorker, what is it that has been keeping you too busy to blog?  Why not just stay late at the office one day or come in early or borrow a housemates’ computer?”  Ah, my friend, so very many things have occupied my time as of late.  Looking back over my recent blog entries, it seems things started tapering off ’round the end of March.  Truly, I’m at a bit of a loss trying to remember at this very moment just what excitement my life held in April and May, so I’ll just recap as of around June.  Let me catch you up on some of the more notable occurrences: 

I was incredibly proud of Kate and The Red Door Theatre Company for our production of Proof, which SOLD OUT for our final Monday performance.  And when I say sold out, I don’t mean we merely filled the seats.  I mean that we took what had previously been a 37-seat house, maxxed it out at 56 seats, double-sold one of those (that’s what happens when you’re late to the theatre!), and had to turn away a very disappointed wait-list, including our primary reviewer (such a shame he missed the show).  Next up:  The Witches at the Eighth Annual Halloween Harvest Festival at Socrates Sculpture Park.  More on that later.

 

 June felt overwhelmingly busy:  I was still working two jobs (and putting in overtime hours at both); I taught a few vocal coachings; Hebrew class was winding to a close, as was my weekly home group; I was still seeing at least a show a week with Uncle (I know, I know, I’m not complaining — just saying that sort of thing takes time!); and I even did a very small gig.  After what felt like a non-stop month, I was more than thrilled to head back to the Lone Star State for the Fourth of July with my friend Josh in tow.  It was a wonderfully fun and relaxing weekend; I only wish I’d had more time.  I didn’t even tell most of my friends I’d be home because I didn’t know how I’d make time to see everyone (so if I missed you, know that I’m sorry, and we’ll get together the next time I’m in town for a reasonable stretch).

The day after we got back, Josh played a really fun gigat Stain bar, and then two days later threw me a suprise birthday party.  I had NO IDEA anything was up, and it was a total blast.  I love surprises (and I’m terribly indecisive), so when Josh offered to take me out for my birthday and asked me where I wanted to go, I said “Surprise me.”  Little did I know he’d coordinate with Kate and actually, well, really surprise me!  Thanks to everyone who made it out that night. 

Note:  The picture is actually from Josh’s birthday party, not mine, but I like it better than the one I have from mine. 

 

 

After the birthday fun, in some ways things slowed down a tad, except for the fact that at the beginning of July I resumed working full time at my original job and have since spent the month running the office while my boss has been out of the country.  I’m feeling a little frazzled and wondering what happened to the time between my birthday and, oh, wow, would you look at that?  It’s actually August. 

All that leads me back to the title of this post, as there are no guarantees that my blogging will become more regular.  I’d like to hope so; but in light of my increased workload and the fact that fall will mean all sorts of things starting back up again, and since I still don’t have a computer, and since I’ve been spending a lot of time on the phone lately catching up with old friends, well . . . dear readers, don’t hold your breath.

But thanks for taking the time to read this one.  )

 

 

HUGE NEWS

THE CULT OF SINCERITY premiers on YouTube on April 8th!  The first full-length feature film ever to be released on YouTube, The Cult of Sincerity is breaking all the rules of independent film-making.  Read more about it here and be sure to check out the website!!

 

He’s Back!

My friend Kyle comes into town again this afternoon to spend Easter weekend with me.  I anticipate much hilarity and fun as I try once again to convince him to make NY his home base.  Wish me luck!

 

Hiatus

Ok, it’s not really true; I don’t even know how to fish.  I had a boyfriend once who wanted to take me . . . and I’ve always loved the song “Fishin’ in the Dark” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band . . . but I digress.  I’ve been so busy with the holidays and then with a CRAZY start to 2008 at work, that I haven’t had a lot of down time.  Plus, my home computer is totally dead.  Thus, this blog is neglected.  Hopefully at some point I’ll be able to resurrect it, as I do actually enjoy blogging (who’d've thunk?).  ‘Til then, don’t knock me out of your feed reader!  I’ll be back!